Awka – A cultural group, Ada-Ndigbo, on Thursday, expressed the determination to make young ladies to be more committed to their cultural heritage.
The founder of the 12 -year- old pageant, Mr Onyechere Anele, made this disclosure on Thursday in Awka while briefing newsmen on the group’s 2016 edition slated for Awka on Dec. 3.
According to Anele, the Ada-Ndigbo cultural pageant is out to showcase the qualities that are expected of an ideal Igbo woman.
Anele, who affirmed that beauty pageant business could be conducted without debasing young ladies, blamed the recent embarrassment in the sector on the activities of unprofessional practitioners.
“Our aim in the Ada-Ndigbo is to make our ladies know what is expected of them as Africans, we are going to look out for language proficiency, Igbo attire and cooking ability among others.
“The recent scandal of a beauty queen is because there was derailments in the process. There are some things that should not be part of the pageant like putting on ‘bikini’ to walk on runways.
“Again, some of the organisers are unprofessional, so we can still have our brand ambassadors through pageantry without making our girls get desperate.
“Rather, they can become more aware of their cultural heritage and protect it,” he said.
Anele said guests would be treated to traditional Igbo delicacies and palm wine.
The reigning Ada-Ndigbo queen, Miss Obianuju Ezenwa, is expected to hand over her crown to the new queen, who would take over from her on Dec. 3.
